Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye of the People’s Government (PG) and Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine have teamed up in a coalition for the ‘No Nedda campaign.’
Other political players joined the two to announce a loose alliance dubbed United Forces of Change at an event in Wakiso District.
They included Erias Lukwago, Besigye’s deputy at PG, also Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and leader of Truth and Justice (TJ).
Others political groups that joined the alliance are Besigye’s Forun for Democratic Change (FDC), Uganda’s largest opposition political party, and Justice Forum (Jeema).
Lukwago and Jeema President Asuman Basalirwa read the coalition’s joint declaration calling on Ugandans “to defend themselves.”
The United Forces of Change accused government of using “the Covid situation to enrich itself at the expense of Ugandans and to entrench themselves further.”
The Yoweri Museveni government, which has ruled Uganda since 1986, has had the privilege of trillions of shillings during the three months of lockdown.
But some people in the areas of Kampala and Wakiso have complained that they are yet to receive food even when the distribution exercise ended.
“It is the money they have borrowed or illegally passed in supplementary budgets that they are spending on buying political opponents and engaging in early rigging of elections,” read Lukwago.
“We are now, therefore announcing that we shall lead Ugandans in a range of non-violent activities aimed at changing the status quo.”
For the ‘No Nedda’ campaign, Besigye and his coalition challenged Ugandans to “raise your voice, let’s hear you up!”
The campaign also borrows some aspects of the 2011 Besigye-led Walk-to-work protests that shook Kampala.
The leaders expect citizens to hoot, clink and make other forms of noise every 1pm.
“For those who feel hungry and need food, we shall request you to bang your empty saucepan with a fork, knife or a spoon in front of your house,” added Lukwago.
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